Will AOL Become the 800-Pound Gorilla of VOIP?

The buzz has been out there for weeks. It became a roar today when CEO Jonathan Miller announced AOL's upcoming VOIP solutions at the Spring 2005 VON Conference in San Jose, California. Pricing specifics have yet to be announced.

AOL enters a market crowded with competitors, as it makes the big play for consumer-level VOIP services. With a customer base still largely rooted in the dialup world, AOL's VOIP offering will ring hollow and land with a thud in the mailboxes of the 56K set. With so many customers yet to make the jump to broadband, can the company expect success in the VOIP market any time soon?

AOL will use technology from Chelmsford, Massachusetts-based Sonus Networks, including the Sonus GSX9000 Open Services Switch, Insignus Softswitch, and the Sonus Insight Management System. Level 3 Communications of San Jose will provide the backbone.

See also: VOIP Plan Comparisons